44 comments:

I live in the country the elementary bus hadn't gone through yet when it started sleeting. I made the decision to keep my child home from middle school before they decided to call off middle & high school. Huff screwed up, he knows it & we know it. Just another reason why the superintendent position should be voted on by the people not the board because his butt would be gone.

If last night's meeting didn't convince you that CJ Huff is the dumbest man on earth, this morning's bungled mess should seal the deal for you. Maybe he forgot to consult President Sharp and Anson Burlingame for this big decision. What a cluster.

I hate him. SO much! Get this guy outta here! He knows nothing about education and even less about what it takes to oversee an entire district. I wouldn't trust this guy to run a lemonade stand, let alone Joplin schools.

Staff who have to travel a distance were put at tremendous risk since they had already left. Students who get dropped off early were already at school. Who will look after them all day? Will they be fed? How many were standing at bus stops in that blast of weather this morning because CJ thought God was on his side, unlike any of the other districts? This just can't go on. He must be fired. Please, people, vote out Sharp. Don't let Good and Campbell, who has a major CJ crush on, get on the Board. This has to end this year. It's time to move away from this disastrous administration and start moving in a better direction.

People go to school farther north in condition much worse then these. If he would of done everything perfectly this morning you would be complaining that we should of had school. You also are saying that C.J. rules by a divine right. Really? I wish the divine right would fix your head and give you something better to do then complain about the canceling of a school day. Also. do you think anybody believes this crap you write?

Mr. Gray, the people up north are far more used to driving and being in these conditions, so that really does not apply to this situation. If you don't believe the crap I write, I encourage you to find another blog and not hurt your delicate sensibilities.

I'm just so tired of everybody finding fault with everything. If your moderately miserable lives are so great, why don't you just go live them and stop trying to control everybody else's by imposing your opinions on others? The anger and hate toward someone you don't even know is what's stupid. And if you know it all and have all the answers on how things can be done differently and better, what are you doing about it? Instead of just posting on a meaningless blog... good grief! Take action toward what you say you want, don't just sit around complaining about what you don't want... what you resist, persists! Misery loves company, as evidenced by your posts.

You are a very sensitive person to be so affronted. However, i had family members endangered by Dr. Huff's decision this morning. It was not a good decision, and looking at the television this morning I was struck that every other superintendent in the immediate area chose to do the opposite of our superintendent. So, because they paid attention to the weather and radar and he didn't, there is yet another mess to clean up. We will hope no one is injured before the day is over.

As for people in the North, my spouse grew up in the "North" and found navigating our vehicle very challenging this morning, so please, just hush. You know not of what you speak. (And that is the correct usage of the preposition "of," unlike your usage of the word in your missive.)

I find it ironic that those of us who are unhappy are criticized by you for complaining, but that in turn is exactly what you are doing. I bet you weren't late for work because you had to go collect your children and slide all the way around town, either. This was all caused by extremely poor judgment. Forgive us for calling it as it is. The truth is just painful sometimes.

You presume we are doing nothing, but you are wrong. Many of us are very proactive in trying to save our school system from the blind sheep crowd.

As for complaining on a "meaningless blog," I believe you have just done the same thing. Misery does indeed love company, and you have just joined the crowd. I don't read blogs that upset me or with which I disagree, as in Burlingame's, so perhaps you would be happier if you just stuck to that one. In the meantime, the rest of us will keep fighting for what is right for our children.

I hope everyone has a safe day in spite of Dear Leader Huff's obviously incompetent decision making.

If Dear Leader Huff had simply read some of the recent posts at The Turner Report he could have been better informed. Tuesday, March 03, 2015 (From the National Weather Service)Significant winter storm headed this way. This was posted at 421 PM which should have allowed ample time for Dear Leader to brew his tea and begin studying the tea leaves or whatever else it is he does in his attempts to interpolate for all his minions just what it is that God intends. Had he only checked the Turner Report things might have been different (and this isn't the first time that this statement applies!)

It must complicate things for Dear Leader's busy day when he must attempt to explain how the NWS apparently issued an accurate prediction of the situation. It seems that either the National Weather Service is better than Dear Leader at predicting the weather, or that the NWS was in closer communication with Dear Leader's fallback quarterback than Dear Leader. Maybe Both?

As far as the comment about people up north I notice that the taxpayers up there demand and pay for much more specialized equipment for dealing with snow and ice on the roads. I think I've passed Mr. Gray himself several times when he was parked in the ditch along the highway.

8:43, you are so tired of it that you continue to read and comment on a blog that irritates you. That is funny. "Stop complaining and do something". That would be sound advice if I were suddenly appointed superintendent. However, at this point it is abundantly clear that the current one is not leaving no matter how poorly the district is run.

I greatly dislike Huff and his minions but other districts didn't cancel until late. They had students returned home, some already at school and others waiting for buses or on the way when the call was made. Many staff members were already at school or on their way when the call was made.Should school have been cancelled earlier? Yes! Did they work with the information they already had? Sort of. If the roads are clear, they aren't allowed to cancel based on weather predictions. If school had been cancelled, many would have complained that there was no reason. This one really is a no-win situation.There are a couple of other things that play into this. Joplin parents are not in favor of dismissing early and the district is legally liable for the kids' safety once they have them. Like Huff, these parents have no plan B. While main roads are often cleared pretty well, side roads are usually not. In addition, the state clears many of the main roads in Joplin while the city clears the others. So, the "people up north" argument isn't a very good one since their roads are actually cleared better.Bottom line, Huff is still an egotistical, controlling man who has not done the right thing by students, parents or staff during his reign of terror. Rain, sleet, hail (tornado!) or snow, Huff must go.

It's sad that Dr. Huff has to take the fall for everything. The weather did not begin to get rough until the buses had already started their routes. How could this possibly be C.J.'s fault? He was doing the best he could and still gets the blame for it. It's sad that this is the only thing grown adults have to talk about. Mr. Turner, I had you as a teacher in class, and witnessed how immaturely you handled your anger. Please turn your reports to positive and constructive ways to better our community rather than berating others.

I drive a bus for another district, I was about half way thru my route when school was called. It wasnt a big deal, we turned around and took them all back home, The younger kids parents were called and notified. Some were not home and had to be taken to a school until such time as a parent could pick them up. So Joplin wasnt the only district that faced this.

Guess what... This isn't the far North and the people around here are ignorant to driving on dry pavement, much less icy roads. There were children left standing at bus stops waiting for buses that would never come. No one said he rules by Divine right, but he certainly thinks so. Maybe someone should give you something better to do than troll and say things that make you sound like you are drunk.

Reed, your comment saddens me and makes me wonder just who has poisoned your mind about Mr. Turner. I am aware that a handful of JHS teachers have been openly critical of Mr. Turner, but most of the teachers at JHS and elsewhere in this school district are grateful that someone is standing up to CJ Huff and the Board of Education. The teachers who support Mr. Turner and that is the overwhelmingly majority can't say anything for fear of being fired. From the way I read this, Mr. Turner was not criticizing CJ Huff's decision (even though it certainly is worthy of it). He is noting that CJ never takes the blame for anything. I would suggest that you consider one other thing, Reed. If you were fired from a job and then had your boss and others lie about you in an open hearing, I doubt that you or me or anyone else would be able to handle it with the dignity and grace with which Mr. Turner has handled it. He has shed light on the corruption in our school system and he has done so without ever saying a disparaging word about the students. At some point, Reed, I hope you will see that when it comes to being a role model for the children in the Joplin Schools Mr. Turner is a far more suitable than CJ Huff. CJ says what he does is for the kids. Mr. Turner has done far more to help the students of this school district than CJ Huff and all of those who work in the MODOT Building. Sorry to be so long with this, but as I said at the beginning it makes me sad that one of Mr. Turner's former students has so little appreciation for the hard work he continues to do for the students and teachers in this school district.

Reed- I very very very much agree with you. You guys are being downright ridiculous and attacked a man who can not defend himself. I'm a JHS student like Reed. Obviously there's things he does that everyone will disagree with, but why hide behind a computer or phone screen? Email him, do something to help the issue, not just bicker. When I woke up for school this morning at 6:45 there was no rain, no ice, no snow. It started around 7. The buses had already been sent out, and started their normal routines. CJ Huff can't predict the weather any better than you or I.Attacking a man who can simply not defend himself is very childish.

You think we aren't doing something about it how?We successfully had the district audited. We now have a journalist willing to stand up to the city and the school district. And in April we shall make BIG changes! We are very tired of our money being spent, wasted and burned on every whim of our great leader in financial destruction, and the BOE that is allowing it to continue. Therefore, we shall change it, but like everything, change takes time. Unlike his however, ours is, and always will be, FOR THE KIDS!

If this had been one of few errors in judgment that Dr. Huff had made, it might not have provoked such a strong reaction. However, people's safety was put at stake. Did other districts have the same problem this morning? A few. However, many more paid attention to the real weather instead of the local reports, checked the radar, looked at the NWS winter weather advisory, and made a safer choice. Dr. Huff has taken a position where he is criticized. That goes with the office.

You must also take into consideration the vast number of problems your district faces. In order to cover the bills and to continue the construction, Dr. Huff has taken this THIRD loan through a non-competitive bidding process. What did he use for collateral? Your school. What if FEMA and SEMA don't pay off any better than the TIF? Is the bank going to foreclose? It would have been so much more advisable to have been frugal.

Once a pattern of bad choices and decisions is obvious the criticisms fall hard, as they should. Those of us who work hard and pay taxes to support your very large, very luxurious school suffer for those decisions. Excuse us if we complain. But the last time I checked, our Constitution gives us the right to dissent. And, it was a desire to be free from unjust taxation that made our country possible. So please, let us have our say in the only safe way that we can. We have our rights, also. There is no room here for Pollyanna visions of this leader. We must do what we must until reason and fairness are restored.

When did high school students start feeling so free as to address their superintendent by his initialized name? And then to use such a condescending tone when addressing adults. This reflects the incredible entitlement mentality that Joplin students have developed and why many of us do not wish to hire them. They have a rude awakening when they go off to college and the work world. Whereas I am proud to see students voicing an opinion, the importance of audience and tone should not be forgotten. I believe to students, as well as anyone not on familiar terms with him, the superintendent should be addressed as "Dr. Huff."

I love all these people making excuses. First off this isn't about CJ screwing up once. It happens so often its unreal. It started sleeting/snowing at 6 not 7. Which in the past CJ has canceled school that late. Also if you don't cancel at 6 then make it a half day. Close at 11. Which also has been done before. This way the staff you neglect on a daily bases can be safe. Finally the person who said the district doesn't cancel based on predictions. Well think back two maybe three years ago when CJ canceled school because it was suppose to snow. Mind you it had been in the 60's for a week and I believe the temp that day was in the 40's. So had it snowed it wouldn't have even stuck anyways. Well what happen? All it did was rain! So please people if you're going to post get your facts straight

Mr Turner - I am sure you tink you could do a better job - are you super human? All of the adults out there need to stop whining and get over themselves - don't judge until you have walked in his shoes.

12:56,I do have my facts. It was following that incident that cancelling on predictions was taken away. Those days will not be forgiven.Again, please keep in mind I do not like Huff or any of the things he does. That policy shouldn't exist. It's always better to err on the side of caution. In this case, it would be on the side of safety.

Another in a long line of STUPID policies-the superintendent is not allowed to cancel school based on predictions?

What in the world do these people think the National Weather Service issues Winter Storm Advisories and Warnings for? So people can plan ahead and not be caught by bad weather which might endanger their safety and those emergency workers who have to rescue them when they are in the ditch or an accident!

Here is what plan ahead looks like in Minnesota! Gates which allow the highways to be closed. This is necessary so that people with not enough sense to heed forecasts and warnings don't need to be rescued from their stranded cars!

I left my home in South Joplin at 5:40am this morning and it was sleeting. By 6am I had text my husband giving him a heads to to "leave the house a little early because roads will probably be slick by 7:30am"... it came down continuously and increasingly from 6a, on. The weather reports and warnings from the last 3 days were blatantly ignored and overlooked - as was the actual weather in action as of very early hours this morning - For what reasoning and with what intent is unbeknownst to us, but the reality and facts are clear as clean water and that is that it was a mindless and careless chain of events this morning and Joplin R8 is fortunate everyone is safe and unharmed. Furthermore - anyone that comes to R. Turners blog, reads it and the comments, etc., only in turn to criticize what he writes and what he stands for looks like a real dandy. You must find either (or both) very useful information or very entertaining reading material. If you were as appalled and alarmed by Turners work I'm certain you wouldn't visit his blog.

You don't have to walk in someone's shoes to not agree with the path they walk. Nor is it judgemental to point out legitimate concerns. No one is rambling on hypothetical opinion or rumor - people are speaking to factual situations and incidents that cause for alarm.

For the record, I don't read this blog- just followed the link to see what the fuss was all about, so I am not stooping to your level of hatred. And my life is fantastic, not moderately miserable!

And yes, I see that you all are doing something- you sure pushed for that audit and that kind of backfired on you, didn't it? No real drama revealed... simple procedural things that need to be adjusted and could be found in any business. But hey, good for you for fighting the good fight!

Best of luck to all of you- you're right, I won't be dropping in on this mess anymore. I'm off to live life instead of just bitching about it.

Will you just shut up!!! He is not a freaking weather man okay!!! The sleet and such was sopost to start at 3 and it didn't so he assumed that school would be fine to go to okay!! He didnt know so just shut up talking about how he should be fired. Do you think you could do the job? No you'd quit your first day, and he has lasted like 7 years!! He has done the best he can if you dont like it move.

How old are you for real??Yes, it was suppose to start earlier, but it didn't. It did however begin sleeting in time to stop all schools. It was not a freak storm. He's been here 8 agonizing years and I think it's past your bedtime!

Yet here you are AGAIN! LolAs for the audit, if you think that was a backfire you are sadly mistaken!! That upset oh great one immensely and there was plenty of ammunition in the pages, that may or may not have been altered, of the audit. A grade of "Fair" is sufficient for you? It is damn near the worst grade possible! That is inexcusable!! He should be ashamed of himself, the Board should be ashamed for allowing it to happen and they need to stop using the tornado as a damn crutch!! He wasn't the hero of Joplin, he did NOT save us all!! It took a TEAM of highly skilled architects, draftsmen, construction workers and committees to put the kids back in school and this town back together!! Almighty God Huff DID NOT DO IT BY HIMSELF AS HE TELLS THE WORLD HE DID!!!

He lives in the same neighborhood at me, first of all. If I did not see rain or sleet, then neither did he. As for you 10:26, I am an adult. I turned 18 in October. Also, I found the comment directed at Joplin students to be incredibly disrespectful, there is no difference between Joplin students and surrounding schools. I've been to 8 other schools in the area. I voiced my opinion as each and everyone of you did. Thank you.

CJ is a moron just like the rest of the heads of the Joplin School district. They call late night to cancel school like there the only ones that have to make plans not giving a crap for parents who work. My children were affected my the tornado and then we finally get into a home to get things back to normal and come to find out our children can't go to south middle school to be with there friends they grew up with because were a block out of the district so we have to move again. Just like politicians they will have your back till you vote them in then they turn there back on you. You know who you are and the rest of the morons that run the school district.

About Me

I am a former teacher in the Joplin and Diamond, Missouri, school districts. Before entering the teaching field, I spent 22 years as a reporter and editor for various Southwest Missouri newspapers. I have published three novels, Small Town News, Devil's Messenger, and No Child Left Alive, and seven non-fiction books, The Turner Report, Newspaper Days, Silver Lining in a Funnel Cloud, Greed, Corruption, and the Joplin Tornado, 5:41: Stories from the Joplin Tornado, Spirit of Hope: The Year After the Joplin Tornado, Scars from the Tornado and Let Teachers Teach.

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